This was my first birth, and it was the best healthcare experience I've ever had. At first, my…read morehusband was a little hesitant (let's be honest so was I) but we both quickly realized the professionalism and great competence of the nurse midwives after seeing them react perfectly when I passed out during a blood drawing at one of my first appointments. After I gave birth, my husband told me he was brought to tears by witnessing the power of women coming around each other during labor.
My first appointment was virtual, and Alys answered every single question and concern I had about their safety protocols and their statistics on transfer rates with confidence. I asked all of the hard questions and was impressed by their protocols.
Around six weeks, I thought I was having a miscarriage and Emily answered my frantic call to the birth center. She was the most compassionate and calming person and walked me through that. She got me an appointment the very next day to ensure everything was okay with the baby.
I failed my first gestational diabetes test, and had to do the second test that had four blood drawings. I got to lay in one of the king-size beds in one of the birthing suites. I got to take a nap in the bed And I felt like I was in a hotel room.
During my actual labor and delivery,
It was way harder than I thought it would be. But having the fortune of laboring in a space, that was so comforting and personalized it made a big difference. I would not have made it without my personal Doula or the nitrous oxide(!!) they provided at the Birth Center.
My daughter had the cord wrapped around her neck, and Melan acted swiftly to somersault her so that she wasn't hurt. I had a second-degree tear and Melan stitched me perfectly.
After birth, my daughter needed some extra monitoring at Vanderbilt, and Jenissa personally walked us into the hospital and got a situated in our room with the nurse at the Vanderbilt Hospital.
Never once did I feel shame for my weight, for any questions that I had, or feeling like I was imposing. At every step of the way, I was empowered, encouraged and taken care of with the utmost care. I relied on the nurse midwives to help me come up with a birth plan, and take care of myself and my baby with evidence-based statistics.
I am so grateful for every single interaction I had at the Vanderbilt Birth Center and I wish Every woman had the opportunity to experience a tender, loving, professional care I received here.
Thank you Emily, Melan, Alys, Grace, Kate, Janessa, Kristin, Janina, Kristin, Heather, Sarah, Laura, Donica, Taneesha!